Career Opportunity

8177 - Deputy City Attorney, Energy- CAT22-EN01

Recruitment: RTF0119650-01076994

Published: August 04, 2022

Apply using SmartRecruiters, the City and County of San Francisco's application portal.

About:

The City Attorney’s Office is an innovative, nationally recognized municipal law office working to protect and advance the rights and interests of the City and County of San Francisco and its residents. With just over 300 talented and dedicated employees, the Office provides the highest quality legal services to the City’s Mayor, Board of Supervisors, officials, boards, commissions, and departments. Our work empowers City leaders with effective, responsive, and creative legal solutions and representation so they can deliver critical public services for the betterment of the San Francisco community and our affirmative advocacy enhances the lives and well-being of the City’s residents and visitors.

The Office recognizes that diversity in the backgrounds, ideas, and experiences of our employees enriches our workplace and enhances our work. We aspire to recruit, employ, retain, and promote capable individuals representing the full spectrum of our community, and welcome all candidates, including candidates of any race, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, and candidates with disabilities. We have a clear vision: to be the workplace where a diverse mix of talented people want to come and stay, and where employees feel engaged and valued for their work and contributions to the Office and the City.

The Office has established Affinity Groups to foster community and inclusivity, and provide safe spaces for employees with shared identities and their allies to gather, share thoughts and experiences, and create opportunities for employees to connect, and a Racial Equity Task Force to recommend steps to: increase racial and ethnic diversity through improved outreach, recruiting and hiring; enhance Office culture to make the Office more supportive, aware, communicative, and empathetic to its diverse employees; and retain our diverse workforce and provide fulfilling and rewarding work and professional development. To learn more about the Office’s efforts to provide a welcoming, diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace please click here. To learn more about the City Attorney’s Office please visit: https://www.sfcityattorney.org/ 
 

Role description

The Energy & Telecommunications Team is a collaborative and dynamic group of seven attorneys, one paralegal and one legal secretary. Attorneys work closely with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission in its operation of two retail electricity businesses: Hetch Hetchy Power and CleanPowerSF. Attorneys advise the City’s Department of Technology on contract negotiation and drafting, cyber-security policy, telecommunications law and policy, and data privacy. The Energy & Telecommunications Team has an active regulatory practice before federal and state agencies on energy and telecommunications matters. Attorneys on the team regularly monitor and advise on relevant federal and state legislation and assist local policymakers with developing their own proposals and understanding local, state, and federal legislation proposed by others.

Deputy City Attorney Position and Responsibilities
Attorneys are assigned a mix of projects including contract review and drafting, administrative litigation, and advice to City employees and officials. Specific assignments may include the following:
• Advise on all aspects of operating wholesale and retail electricity businesses, including    rates, resource development and acquisition, regulatory compliance, customer programs, wildfire mitigation, and safety measures imposed by state and federal regulatory bodies.
• Monitor and advise on stakeholder processes and requirements established by the California Independent Operator.
• Advise on the City’s contracting requirements and procedures. Negotiate and draft energy purchase and sale agreements and service agreements.
• Represent the City in administrative litigation before regulatory agencies, including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Federal Communications Commission, California Public Utilities Commission, California Energy Commission, and in related court actions.
• Advise the City in its efforts to acquire PG&E’s electric distribution system and replace PG&E as the provider of electricity throughout San Francisco.
• Advise City departments responding to and protecting against cybersecurity incidents.
• Draft service level agreements for cloud services.
• Review and recommend best practices and compliance guidelines for data management in accordance with municipal, state and federal privacy laws.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
 

How to qualify

Minimum Qualifications
• Licensed to practice law in California.

Desired Qualifications
• Experience in energy or telecommunications law and policy.
• Ability to assume responsibility quickly and work independently and efficiently.
• Ability to manage and appropriately balance multiple assignments and litigation matters, meet deadlines, and adjust to fluctuations in workload.
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and clients, with a positive attitude.
• Commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment.
• Demonstrated good judgment, adaptability, and self-awareness.
• Excellent oral and written communication and legal analytical skills.
• Excellent drafting and negotiating skills.
• An interest in and commitment to public service.

What else should I know?

Salary and Benefits
The Deputy City Attorney position has a 16-step salary scale ranging from $131,794 - $230,880. The successful applicant is appointed to a salary step based on years of experience as a lawyer. The City offers robust health, retirement and other benefits.  For more information please visit: https://sfdhr.org/benefits-overview.  Attorneys are represented by the Municipal Attorneys Association.  Information about compensation and benefits can be found here: 8177 Attorney - Classification & Compensation.

Application Requirements:

To consider your application complete, please upload your most recent resume and cover letter in PDF format by Friday, August 26, 2022.

COVID-19 Vaccination Required as a Condition of Employment
The City and the Office are committed to the health and safety of our employees. Under the City’s Vaccination Policy, all City and County of San Francisco employees are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. For details on how this condition applies to your employment, please visit, https://sfdhr.org/sites/default/files/documents/Job-Opportunities/COE-COVID-19-Vaccination-Requirements.pdf

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:  All City and County of San Francisco employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Someone is fully vaccinated when 14 days have passed since they received the final dose of a two-shot vaccine or a dose of a one-shot vaccine. Any new hire must present proof of full vaccination status to be appointed. Any new hire who will be routinely assigned or occasionally enter High-Risk Settings, must provide proof of having received a COVID-19 booster vaccine by March 1, 2022, or once eligible.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.